i 


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AUTHOR 


ZANDT,  AMBROSE 


TITLE: 


LEX  HELICIS.  THE  STORY 
OF  CREATION 

PLACE: 

BOSTON 

DA  TE : 

[c1 905] 


Master  Negative  # 


Restrictions  on  Use* 


CO LU M B i A  U N 1 V E I^S  1 ' I " Y  L 1 13 R Mil iiS 

PRESERVATION  DEPARTMENT 


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Lex  helicis ; 


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Boston  I    1905] 


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the  story  of  creation;   tr%  by 


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Lex  Helicis 


THE  STORY  OF 
CREATION 


Ambrose  Zandt 


Tkanslatel)  by  M. 


FARRINGTON    PRINTING    CO. 
BOSTON,   MASS.,    U.S.A. 


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Book  1— /iC)/^)'. 


Part  I — Ckkation. 

(a)  Knowledge. 

(b)  Earth. 
{c)  Atom. 
{d)  Cell. 

Part  II — EvniiTiox 


Book  W—SOUL. 
Book  \\\—MIND, 
Book  W—SPIRIT. 
Book  V— Z?6^rF. 
Book  V\—H0PE. 


'"'"J 


PRESCRIPT. 


If,  by  "  Knowledge,"  is  meant  a  translation  of  facts  into  technical  terms 
there  is  a  vast  amount  of  Knowledge  in  the  World.     If,  by  "  Knowledge,"  is 
meant  a  translation  of  facts  into  thoughts;  there  is  very  little  Knowledge  in 
the  world. 

Most  of  the  Knowledge  which  Man  now  possesses  is  inherited  from  his 
forefathers.  His  forefathers,  like  himself,  were  men  of  failings.  The  failings 
of  those  of  his  forefathers,  who  devoted  themselves  to  the  acquisition  and 
communication  of  Knowledge,  were,  in  general,  two-fold. 

First — They,  his  forefathers,  were  not  always  at  pains  to  obtain  a  very 
complete  picture  of  the  object  they  were  studying.  They  were  sometimes 
satisfied  with  a  single  view  of  the  object  ;  and  made  this  to  serve  for  the  front, 
the  back,  the  sides,  and  the  middle  of  it. 

Second— In  describing  an  object,  they  often  employed  a  terminology, 
which,  to  them,  was  xj/w.W/V  merely ;  and  which,  to  others  than  themselves, 
was  either  misrepresentative,  or  was  entirely  meaningless. 

These  views  and  these  words  are  now  our  legacies.  We  preserve  them 
out  of  respect  for  the  dead,  and  out  of  disrespect  for  the  living. 

Not  one  single  person  ever  believed  in  the  "  Attraction  of  Gravitation 
least  of  all,  its  Formulator.      No  one  ever  believed  in  "  Chemical  Affinity,"  or 
in  "  Polarity."     And  this,  for  only  one  reason ;  but  that,  a  sufiicient  one  ;  for 
the    reason,   namely,  that  they  cannot  be  believed;    they   are   inconceivable 
impossibilities. 

Yet  these  words  are  used  as  "explanations"  in  the  text  books  of  today. 
They  are  imposed  upon  Inquirers  as  Elements  of  "  Knowledge  ;  "  in  all  cases 
a  tiresome  load  to  carry ;  and,  in  many  cases,  an  inhibitory  one,  to  the  acquisi- 
tion of  a  real  understanding  of  the  matter. 

The  only  merit  of  this  Book  lies  in  the  fact  that  phenomena  are  herein 
described,  not  only  in  words  which  correspond  to  human  experiences,  and  are 
therefore  understandable;  but  in  words  which  correspond  to  the  simplest  ex- 
pressions of  human  experiences,  and  are  therefore  understandable  as  clearly 
as  may  be. 

These  first  four  chapters,  though  only  part  of  the  introduction  to  the 
body  of  the  Work,  are,  themselves,  complete  so  far  as  they  go.  And,  if  the 
subject,  or  style,  or  both  become  wearisome,  the  remaining  chapters  may  be 
ignored. 

Tuis  little,  at  least,  will  be  Kno-wn  in  the  only  proper  sense  of  the  word 


/ 


Knowledge. 


I. 


Human  Experiences  are  of  two  general  varieties,  objective 
and  subjective.  Objective  Experiences  are  those  derived  directly 
from  the  organs  of  sense.  Subjective  Experiences  are  those  in 
which  the  organs  of  sense  are  not  directly  concerned. 

It  is  from  tlie  former  class  that  Physical  Science  profes- 
sedly derives  iis  data.  Its  laws  are  said  to  be  expressions  of 
totalities  of  such  data  :  and  its  liypotlieses.  to  be  tenable,  must 
conform  to  them.  Tlie  radical  test  of  a  physical  theory  is 
avowed  to  be  its  visualizability;  failing  which,  all  others  fall  to 
the  ground. 

As  to  the  reliability  of  this  data,  the  Physicist  has  noth- 
ing to  say.  He  takes  it  for  granted.  Whether  or  no  Man  is  jus- 
tified in  projecting  his  Sensual  Experiences  outside  his  personal- 
ity;  in  endowing  them  with  objective  embodiment;  in  imputing 
to  them  independent  existence;  in  applying  to  them  distinctive 
names;  the  Physicist  never  dreams  of  inquiring. 

But,  if  this  much  be  provisionally  allowed;  it  will  be  well, 
before  attempting  to  visualize  Objects,  first,  to  pay  some  atten- 
tion to  their  generators;  to  the  Sensual  Experiences  themselves, 
which,  so  far  as  Man  is  concerned,  give,  to  these  Objects,  birth. 

It  will  be  well,  indeed,  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  the  quality 
and  calling  of  all  human  Experiences ;  so  that  the  error  of  pred- 
icating any  Object  which  has  no  counterpart  in  Experience,  and 
the  error  of  omitting  to  project  any  Experience  which  really 
exists,  may  be  equally  avoided. 

II. 

The  crudest  and  least  reliable  sense-organ  is  muscle.  Even 
its  right  to  the  term  has  been  denied.  The  information,  how- 
ever, derived  from  it,  is  not  inconsiderable.     It  records  the  fact 


V 


.J 


401816 


of  resistance  to  pressure.  The  Resistance  is  certain  ;  it  con- 
cerns the  Personality.  The  Pressure  is  inferred  ;  it  concerns  the 
Environment.  It  records  two  Pressures ;  one  within  and  the 
other  witiiout  the  personality ;  a  dual  fact ;  a  multiple  fact. 
Whatever  other  facts  Muscle  may  record;  these,  MULTIPLICITY 
and  PRESSURE,  are  the  primitive  ones. 

The  surest  and  most  complicated  of  all  human  sense-organs 
is  the  eye.  It  records  Color,  Light,  Form,  etc.,  in  almost  end- 
less variety.  But  every  one  of  its  Experiences  is  reducible  to  a 
series  of  Pressures,  only  differing  from  a  second  series,  in 
Multiplicity, 

The  ear  is,  likewise,  an  organ  which  records  alternations  of 
Pressures  ;  and  which  records  nothing  more  primitive.  And  so, 
also,  the  sense  of  Touch,  of  Taste,  of  Smell. 

These  two  Experiences,  therefore,  Multiplicity  and  Pres- 
sure, are,  it  appears,  the  basic  objective  experiences  of  Man. 
And,  if,  now,  these  Experiences  be  projected  outside  Man's  per- 
sonality, and  independent  existence  assumed  for  them  ;  they  be- 
come External  Physical  Objects.  Distinctive  names  may  be 
assigned  to  them.  Pressure  becomes  That  which  Presses — 
Body,  Matter,  Substance — whatever  name  may  be  preferred;  and 
Multiplicity  becomes  That  which  is  Other  than  any  single  indi- 
vidual Pressure — its  Environment — the  particular  factor  or 
factors  surrounding  it. 


III. 


By  Subjective  Experiences  are  meant  those  of  Volition  and 
Feeling ;  and  also  that  Experience  which  includes  both  of  these 
varieties — Power,  Causation,  Subjectivity — by  whatever  name  it 
be  known.  Both  Volition  and  Feeling  are  experienced  to  be 
Causes,  not  only  of  each  other,  but  of  Objective  Experiences 
also.  And  it  is  an  easy  transition  to  extend  this  principle  to  Ex- 
ternal Objects,  not  only  as  affecting  Man,  but  as  affecting  each 
other. 

Indeed,  if  it  be  considered  warrantable  for  Man  to  project 
his  Objective  Experiences  outside  his  personality;  to  endow  them 
with  putative  existence ;  to  call  them  Objects ;  there  does  not  ap- 


-t 


pear  to  be  any  valid  reason  why  it  is  not  warrantable  for  Man  to 
project,  also,  his  Subjective  Experiences ;  to  endow  them,  like- 
wise, with  independent  existence ;  and  to  give  them  any  names  he 
chooses. 

And,  in  point  of  fact,  this  is  just  what  the  Ordinary  Person 
does.  Under  the  term  **Force,**  he  projects  ulteriorly  his  Subjec- 
tive Experience  of  Power,  not  only  as  a  property  of  Objects,  but 
as  an  independent  objective  Entity  itself. 

IV. 

The  Metaphysician,  however  (with  whom  the  Physicist  has 
no  dealings)  will  not  have  it  so.  He  urges  that  Objective  Ex- 
periences, occurring  at  the  periphery  of  Man's  personality,  are 
projected  instinctively  and  unconsciously ;  but  that  Subjective 
ones,  occurring  evidently  within  the  personality,  are  projected,  if 
at  all,  consciously  and  with  intention.  That  the  warrant,  if 
there  be  any,  for  the  projection  of  human  experiences  of  any 
kind,  is  a  warrant  derived  solely  from  human  exigencies  and 
habit.  And  that,  if  this  be,  indeed,  applicable  to  one  kind  of 
experiences ;  it  does  not  hold  good  for  the  other.  That,  in  short, 
while,  in  point  of  fact,  no  valid  reason  presents  itself  for  allowing 
the  one;  a  positive  reason  presents  itself  for  disallowing  the 
other. 

In  this  discussion  the  Physicist  bears  no  part.  He  takes 
the  stand  that,  if  by  "  Subjective,"  are  meant  Mental  Experi- 
ences ;  they  are  matters  which  do  not  concern  him  ;  for.  that  he 
is  dealing  with  "Bodies,"  of  which  Mind  is  specifically  denied.. 
That,  so  far  as  he  is  concerned,  when  he  has  discovered  that  in 
the  presence  of  certain  conditions  certain  phenomena  arise,  he 
halts ;  and  does  not  seek  to  pry  further.  That,  since  it  is  only 
bodily  properties  to  which  he  pays  attention,  he  does  not,  for  his 
part,  employ  mental  terminology.  But,  that,  if  the  Ordinary 
Person  finds  it  convenient  to  his  habits  and  agreeable  to  his 
spirits  to  regard  these  properties  as  "Causes,"  to  name  them 
"  Forces,"  "  Attractions,"  "  Affinities,"  or,  indeed,  "  Faiths," 
"Hopes"  and  "Charities,"  he  (the  Physicist)  will  be  the  very 
last  one  in  the  world  to  seriously  object;  only  pointing  out  that 


i) 


such  application  of  terms  may  lead  to  confusion  of  ideas,  and  is, 
to  this  extent,  unjustifiable. 


V. 


To  the  Serious  Person,  choice  of  appellation  is  unimportant. 
It  is  the  Phenomenon  itself  which  is  to  be  regarded. 

By  aay  names.  Physical  Phenomena  correspond  to  Man's 
Physical  Experiences;  and  the  most  elementary  Physical  Phen- 
omenon to  the  most  elementary  Physical  Experience.  If  these, 
as  recorded  grossly  by  the  most  elementary  Sense,  are  discovered  to 
be,  in  point  of  fact.  Multiplicity  and  Pressure ;  then  are  Multipli- 
city and  Pressure,  from  a  human  standpoint,  the  most  elementary 
properties  of  Body.  If  these  very  same  Experiences,  and  no 
other,  are  recorded  elaborately  by  all  the  Senses ;  then  are  these 
very  same  properties  the  only  properties  of  Body. 

They  are  Causes  and  they  are  Effects ;  they  are  Attractions, 
Affinities,  Polarities,  and  whatever  other  fanciful  aliases  may  be 
applied  to  them.  They  are  the  Inherencies,  Tendencies,  Dispo- 
sitions and  Inclinations  of  Body.  These,  and  these  alone.  Are 
Body  ;  the  Aye  and  the  No  of  Body  ;  the  Shapes,  Masses,  Volumes 
and  Densities  of  Body ;  the  First  and  the  Last  of  Body ;  and  be- 
side them  is  no  other. 

It  may  be  convenient  to  tabulate  Bodily  Properties,  with 
their  immediate  derivatives,  thus — 


Multiplicity 
Quantity Ratio 


Pressure 
Passivity Activity 


VI. 


To  complete  the  picture  of  Man's  Universe,  there  is  to  be 
predicated  an  Environment  to  it.  As  Man  predicates  the  ex- 
istence of  an  Environment  relating  to  himself,  just  so  soon  as  it 
thus  acquires  Bodily  Reality  similar  to  his  own,  it  must,  to  be 
consistent,  acquire  also  an  Environment  similar  to  his  own.  As 
the  interactions  of  Man  and  his  Environment,  so  the  interactions 


of  This,  and  of  That   which  is  Beyond.     A  Triad,  then ;  Man ; 
Man's  Proper  Environment;  Man's  General  Environment. 


And  here  is  the  verge  of  Man's  horizon.  Here  Knowledge 
halts.     Here  Faith  begins. 

To  many  it  will  appear  that  Knowledge  halted  long  before ; 
that,  indeed,  it  never  got  fairly  under  way. 

If  a  condition  of  human  Knowledge  is  that  the  factors  must 
meet  and  oppose  each  other ;  how  few  of  all  the  objects  in  the 
Universe  will  ever  come  within  Man's  ken. 

If,  by  Knowledge,  is  meant  a  translation  of  phenomena  into 
thoughts ;  what  an  abyss  of  incommensurability  there  is  between 
the  factors. 

Man's  view  of  the  Universe  may  be  likened  to  a  system  of 
logarithms  wherein  "one"  shall  represent  Infinity.  And  if  he 
will  not  view  it  thus,  he  may  not  view  it  at  all. 


Earth. 


I. 


The  prime  factors  of  any  physical  Object  are  two — the  Body 
of  the  Object  and  the  Eaviroameat  of  the  Object.  These  two 
factors,  then,  apply  to  our  own  Solar  System  ;  if  it  is,  indeed,  a 
physical  Object. 

Both  Body  and  Environment  possess  one  basic  property  in 
common ;  the  property  which  stamps  each  of  them,  to  a  human 
view,  with  objective  reality;  the  property  which  corresponds  to 
the  most  ultimate  objective  Experience  of  Man ;  and  which  must, 
accordingly,  if  any,  be  recognized  as  the  most  ultimate  nature  of 
Objects  external  to  Man.  It  is  the  property  of  Multiplicity  or 
Numerical  Separateness,  The  Body,  as  a  whole,  is  separate 
and  apart  from  the  Environment  as  a  whole ;  and  every  Ele- 
ment of  Body,  and  every  Element  of  Environment,  is  separate 
and  apart  from  every  other  element  of  both. 

This  being  the  most  primitive  condition  of  Objects ;  all  sub- 
sequent phenomena  can  only  be  modifications  of  this  ;  an  approx- 
imation to  coincidence  of  the  factors,  or  a  reversal  from  approx- 
imate coincidence  to  the  primitive  state. 

If  the  property  of  multiplicity  be  called  a  Cause,  then  is  it 
the  negative  principle  of  causation.  If  technical  terms  are  to 
be  applied  to  the  subsequent  physical  phenomena,  conditioned 
by  multiplicity ;  the  terms  most  used  are  "  Evolution  "  and 
"  Devolution." 

Less  basic  than  Multiplicity,  but  less  basic  than  no  other 
property  of  physical  objects,  is  Pressure,  the  positive  aspect  of 
Causation,  It  is  a  property  possessed  alike  by  Body  and  Envir- 
onment. The  Body,  as  a  whole,  presses  upon,  and  is  pressed 
by  the  Environment    as  a    whole ;  and  every  Element    of  each 


presses,    and    is   pressed  by,    the    Environment    peculiar  and 
proper  to  itself. 

"  In  the  beginning  "  the  Solar  Elements  are  affected  by  two 
principal  Stresses,  acting  in  opposite  directions.  The  one  is 
native  to  the  Elements  themselves ;  an  expression  of  their  basic 
property  of  multiplicity  ;  a  manifestation,  by  each  Element,  of 
its  own  particular  aloofness  from  all  others.  The  other  Stress  is 
foreign  to  the  Elements.  It  is  derived  from  the  Environment ;  an 
expression  of  its  separateness  as  a  whole  from  the  whole  Solar 
System.  The  first  is  internal ;  expansive ;  the  second,  ex' 
ternal ;  compressive. 

Upon  the  ratio  of  these  Stresses,  the  preponderance  of  one 
over  the  other,  depend  Devolution  or  Evolution.  The  Foreign 
Stress  predominates.     Creation  begins. 


II. 


Owing  to  the  inequality  of  the  two  Pressures,  and  the  pre- 
dominance of  the  Environing  one,  the  Solar  Elements  begin  to 
converge  towards  a  common  focus.  Here,  by  aggregation,  the 
native  pressure  reaches  a  point  where  it  equals  the  foreign  one. 
The  Elements  rest.     They  mass. 

Owing  to  irregularities  in  the  ratios  of  the  two  principal 
Pressures,  and  their  occasional,  local,  equality ;  subordinate  ag- 
gregations of  Elements  occur,  similar  to  the  central  one,  parts  of 
the  general  convergence. 

Irregularities,  subordinate  to  these,  occasion  aggregations, 
which  bear,  to  these,  the  same  relation,  as  these  to  the  central  one. 

Each  of  these  Masses  is  moving  in  the  mean  direction  of 
the  Pressures  which  generate  them.  This  direction  is,  in  general, 
owing  to  the  predominating  influence  of  the  Environing  Pressure, 
a  Curved  Line  bending  inwards. 

Owing  to  multiple  irregularities  in  the  ratios  of  the  two 
Pressures,  and  occasional  predominence  of  the  native  one,  this 
Curve  is  very  Complex.     In  general,  a  completed  orbit  approxi- 


lO 

mates  to  a  spire ;  an  arc;  a  broken  ring  whose  ends  do  not 
lie  in  one  plane. 

The  Elements,  also,  of  each  Mass  are  moving  in  the  mean 
direction  of  the  Pressures  which  generate  their  Motion  ;  in  gen- 
eral, then,  meridianally  or  equatorially ;  the  mean  of  which  ap- 
proximates to  the  same  line  as  that  of  the  Mass ;  a  spire;  an  arc 
or  broken  ring. 

The  aggregate  Motions  of  all  the  Elements  of  a  Mass  rela- 
tive to  each  other  constitute  the  form  of  the  Mass. 

The  aggregate  Motions  of  all  the  Elements  of  a  Mass  relative 
to  the  Environment  of  the  Mass  as  a  Whole  constitute  the  Trans- 
latory  Patli  of  the  Whole. 


III. 


The  Environment  of  any  Body  of  the  Solar  System,  or  of 
any  Body  whatever  in  course  of  formation,  is,  evidently,  the 
Formative  Material  of  which  the  Body  is  being  composed. 

Of  the  constitution  of  Solar  Material,  all  has  been  said  that 
can  be  said.  To  superadd  a  string  to  adjectives,  to  state  what  it 
is  not,  would  be  tedious  and  unprofitable.  It  is  a  Multiplicity 
of  Pressures,     No  other  definition  than  this  is  forthcoming. 

Still  converging  towards  its  main  and  minor  objective  points 
it  is  the  same  today  as  "  in  the  beginning."  It  is  the  positive 
causation  of  all  phenomena  occurring  at  a  great  distance  from 
any  of  the  Solar  Bodies ;  and  it  is  the  chief  causative  principle 
of  all  phenomena  occurring  at  a  small  distance  from  these  Bodies. 


IV. 


If  the  Solar  Material  is  advancing  towards  a  particular 
centre  in  successive  spherical  strata,  then  is  the  area  of  any  one 
of  these  spheres  as  the  square  of  its  radius.  And,  if  the  ad- 
vance is  uniform,  all  the  spheres  contain  equal  amounts  of  Ma- 
terial ;  and  the  amount  of  Material,,  contained  in  the  same  area  of 


II 


any  of  the  spheres,  varies  inversely  as  the  square  of  the  radius  of 
that  sphere. 

So  that  the  degree  of  impulsive  force,  toward  the  centre  of  a 
Solar  Body  in  course  of  formation,  which  a  foreign  object  en- 
counters, is  in  inverse  proportion  to  the  square  of  the  distance 
of  that  object  from  the  centre  of  the  Body. 

Again — If  formation  of  all  the  Solar  Bodies  commenced 
simultaneously,  has  continued  uniformly  until  now,  and  is  still  so 
continuing;  the  relative  Masses  of  these  Bodies,  today,  are  precise 
indices  of  the  relative  quantities  of  Material  which  has  accrued, 
and  is  still  accruing,  to  each  of  them,  within  the  same  period  of 
time  ;  and  are  precise  indices,  therefore,  of  the"  relative  degree  of 
impulsive  force,  manifested  by  the  accruing  Material  of  each,  to- 
wards its  own  centre  of  convergence. 


V. 


To  the  impulsive  manifestation  of  the  Formative  Material  of 
all  Solar  Bodies  still  in  course  of  formation,  there  was  applied,  in 
an  age  teeming  with  conceits  and  fancies,  a  name,  which,  in  our 
age,  appears  grotesque  and  whimsical  —  The  Attraction  of 
Gravitation. 

This  name,  out  of  reverence  for  its  illustrious  sponsor  and 
for  the  magnitude  of  the  discovery  to  which  it  alludes,  has  per- 
sisted to  the  present  time. 

Never  was  scientific  metaphor  more  unfortunate.  For, 
though,  presumably,  it  would  be  taken  literally  by  those  alone, 
who  had  "no  competent  faculty  of  thinking;  "  whether  or  no  it 
is  that  this  characteristic  has  a  very  extensive  application  among 
mankind,  it  certainly  is  a  fact  that  literally  it  has  been  taken  ;  and 
that,  not  by  the  few,  but  by  the  many.  That  physical  Objects  do, 
in  some  mysterious  way,  attract,  pull,  tend  to  approach  each 
other,  of  their  own  initiative,  is  the  general  impression  ;  and 
not  alone,  the  vulgar  one. 

To  the  Physicist,  this  is  gall  and  wormwood.  But  so  far  as 
the  word  "  Attraction  "  is  concerned,  it  is  doubtful  what  other 
name  would  seem  more  fitting. 

For,  is  it  not  a  fact,  clear  to  observation,  that  Bodies  often 


A< 


10 


mates  to  a  spire ;  an  arc;  a  broken  ring  whose  ends  do  not 
lie  in  one  plane. 

The  Elements,  also,  of  each  Mass  are  moving  in  the  mean 
direction  of  the  Pressures  which  generate  their  Motion  ;  in  gen- 
eral, then,  meridianally  or  equatorially ;  the  mean  of  which  ap- 
proximates to  the  same  line  as  that  of  the  Mass ;  a  spire;  an  arc 
or  broken  ring. 

The  aggregate  Motions  of  all  the  Elements  of  a  Mass  rela- 
tive to  each  other  constitute  the  form  of  the  Mass. 

The  aggregate  Motions  of  all  the  Elements  of  a  Mass  relative 
to  the  Environment  of  the  Mass  as  a  Whole  constitute  the  Trans- 
latory  Patli  of  the  Whole. 


III. 


The  Environment  of  any  Body  of  the  Solar  System,  or  of 
any  Body  whatever  in  course  of  formation,  is,  evidently,  the 
Formative  Material  of  which  the  Body  is  being  composed. 

Of  the  constitution  of  Solar  Material,  all  has  been  said  that 
can  be  said.  To  superadd  a  string  to  adjectives,  to  state  what  it 
is  not,  would  be  tedious  and  unprofitable.  It  is  a  Multiplicity 
of  Pressures.     No  other  definition  than  this  is  forthcoming. 

Still  converging  towards  its  main  and  minor  objective  points 
it  is  the  same  today  as  "  in  the  beginning."  It  is  the  positive 
causation  of  all  phenomena  occurring  at  a  great  distance  from 
any  of  the  Solar  Bodies ;  and  it  is  the  chief  causative  principle 
of  all  phenomena  occurring  at  a  small  distance  from  these  Bodies. 


IV. 


If  the  Solar  Material  is  advancing  towards  a  particular 
centre  in  successive  spherical  strata,  then  is  the  area  of  any  one 
of  these  spheres  as  the  square  of  its  radius.  And,  if  the  ad- 
vance is  uniform,  all  the  spheres  contain  equal  amounts  of  Ma- 
terial ;  and  the  amount  of  Material,  contained  in  the  same  area  of 


1 1 


Ai 


W 


any  of  the  spheres,  varies  inversely  as  the  square  of  ihe  radius  of 
that  sphere. 

So  that  the  degree  of  impulsive  force,  toward  the  centre  of  a 
Solar  Body  in  course  of  formation,  which  a  foreign  object  en- 
counters, is  in  inverse  proportion  to  the  square  of  the  distance 
of  that  object  from  the  centre  of  the  Body. 

Again — If  formation  of  all  the  Solar  Bodies  commenced 
simultaneously,  has  continued  uniformly  until  now,  and  is  still  so 
continuing;  the  relative  Masses  of  these  Bodies,  today,  are  precise 
indices  of  the  relative  quantities  of  Material  which  has  accrued, 
and  is  still  accruing,  to  each  of  them,  within  the  same  period  of 
time ;  and  are  precise  indices,  therefore,  of  the"  relative  degree  of 
impulsive  force,  manifested  by  the  accruing  Material  of  each,  to- 
wards its  own  centre  of  convergence. 


V. 


To  the  impulsive  manifestation  of  the  Formative  Material  of 
all  Solar  Bodies  still  in  course  of  formation,  there  was  applied,  in 
an  age  teeming  with  conceits  and  fancies,  a  name,  which,  in  our 
age,  appears  grotesque  and  whimsical  —  The  Attraction  of 
Gravitation. 

This  name,  out  of  reverence  for  its  illustrious  sponsor  and 
for  the  magnitude  of  the  discovery  to  which  it  alludes,  has  per- 
sisted to  the  present  time. 

Never  was  scientific  metaphor  more  unfortunate.  For, 
though,  presumably,  it  would  be  taken  literally  by  those  alone, 
who  had  "  no  competent  faculty  of  thinking  ;  "  whether  or  no  it 
is  that  this  characteristic  has  a  very  extensive  application  among 
mankind,  it  certainly  is  a  fact  that  literally  it  has  been  taken  ;  and 
that,  not  by  the  few,  but  by  the  many.  That  physical  Objects  do, 
in  some  mysterious  way,  attract,  pull,  tend  to  approach  each 
other,  of  their  own  initiative,  is  the  general  impression  ;  and 
not  alone,  the  vulgar  one. 

To  the  Physicist,  this  is  gall  and  wormwood.  But  so  far  as 
the  word  "  Attraction  "  is  concerned,  it  is  doubtful  what  other 
name  would  seem  more  fitting. 

For,  is  it  not  a  fact,  clear  to  observation,  that  Bodies  often 


\  ' 


12 


A, 


do  approach  one  another ;  and,  apparently,  of  tbeir  own  iaitia' 

iive.  Light  Bodies,  in  the  air,  often  do  so.  Floating  particles 
on  still  water  often  do  so.  Waves  leap  up  towards  the  moon. 
Planets  themselves  are  susceptible  of  the  proximity  of  others,  and 
are  "  perturbed  "  thereby. 

Now  what  is  all  this  but  attraction?  To  translate  it 
"  Repulsion  "  certainly  seems  to  express  the  reverse  of  fact. 

It  is  not  intended  to  insult  the  "  competent  faculty  "  of  the 
Questioner,  by  returning  categorical  answer  to  this  question.  It 
may,  however,  with  permission,  be  pointed  out  that  an  Object, 
compelled^  forced,  is,  invariably,  driven  away  from,  not  to- 
wards, the  Agent  positively  operating.  At  least,  this  is  the  only 
kind  of  positive  causation  of  which  Man  is  aware ;  whatever  may 
be  the  absolute  fact  of  the  matter. 

In  pulling,  therefore,  the  active  agent  must,  by  some  means, 
circumvent  the  object  to  be  pulled,  so  as  to  attack  it  in  the  rear. 
For  example — 

In  a  moving  chain,  a  part  of  each  link  passes  beliind  the 
link  succeeding  it,  and  applies  pressure  there.  In  a  rope,  the 
strands  crook  around  and  beliind  succeeding  strands.  Filaments 
of  muscle  pass  behind  spiculae  of  bone  on  which  they  make 
traction.  Muscle  as  a  whole,  a  limb,  fingers,  all  ctook  behind  the 
object  to  be  affected.  They  all  make  pressure  upon  that  part  of 
the  object  which  is  furthest  from  the  point  to  which  it  is  to  be 
moved. 

Now,  just  what  kind  of  grappling-irons  does  a  Planet  em- 
ploy when  it  sportively  perturbs  a  second  one  ? 

Attraction,  if  it  is  a  force  in  any  wise,  literal  or  analogical, 
is  a  negative  force,  not  a  positive  one.  A  Body  attracts  a 
second  Body  inasmuch  as  it  does  not  resist  it,  and  no  more.  A 
Body  seeks  the  centre,  or  any  other  part,  of  a  second  Body,  if  it 
is  driven  thither  by  a  third  Body,  and  not  otherwise. 

There  is  no  other  way  of  "regarding"  the  matter,  convenient 
or  inconvenient.  In  proportion  as  one  regards  the  matter  in 
this  way,  one  regards  it  clearly.  In  proportion  as  one  regards  the 
matter  in  any  other  way,  one  does  not  regard  it  at  all. 


I 


^<\ 


! 


Atom. 


I. 


"In  the  beginning  the  Earth  was  without  form,  and  void." 
At  the  end  of  the  first.day  of  Creation,  a  nucleus  is  formed  and 
saturated. 

Deriving,  from  their  accumulated  numbers,  sufficient  force 
to  successfully  antagonize  the  foreign  Pressure,  the  Elements  now 
turn  upon  one  another. 

A  civil  war  begins.  Attacking  and  attacked  ;  repelling  and 
repulsed;  the  scene  enacted  outside  the  Earth,  is  repeated,  micro- 
scopically, in  its  depths. 

Out  of  this  turmoil,  the  creature  of  it,  formed  and  fashioned 
by  it,  the  warring  Elements  themselves  the  Formative  Material  of 
it,  arises  the  Atom ;  as  the  Earth  arose  from  the  confusion 
without. 

^  Like  the  Earth,  the  Atom  receives  from  its  generating  fac- 
tors, particular  properties  of  Rest  and  Motion,  Mass  and  Form  ; 
properties,  which,  presuming  that  the  forces,  present  in  the  be- 
ginning, will  not  be  subsequently  equalled  in  the  Earth's  history, 
are  likely  to  be  permanent  and  stable. 

Whether  this  be  so  or  not ;  whether  or  no,  in  the  future,  forces 
may  arise  sufficient  to  re-dissolve  all  Atoms  into  their  primitive 
Elements;  there  is  one  Atomic  property,  at  least,  which  is  certain- 
ly permanent  and  stable.  It  is  a  property  not  accruing  at  birth, 
but  inherent  in  the  Material  of  which  every  Atom  is  composed ;  a 
property,  the  loss  of  which  is  loss  of  physical  existence.  It  is 
the    property  of  Separateness,  of  individual  isolation. 

And  only  less  basic  than  this  is  the  expression  and 
manifestation  of  it,  the  property  of  Pressure ;  this,  also,  a  birth- 
right of  the  Atom,  and  one,  therefore,  of  which  it  can  never  be 
deprived. 

II. 


The  Motion  of  an  Atom,  like  that  of  a  Planet,  arising  from 


14 

similar  causation,  is  two-fold ;  that  of  its  Parts  and  that  of  its 
Whole ;  the  one  constituting  the  Form  of  the  Atom  ;  and  the 
other,  its  Translatory  Path. 

Both  Form  and  Path  are  Spires ;  Arcs ;  Broken  Rings  whose 
extremities  do  not  lie  in  one  plane.  From  variations  in  the 
ratios  of  the  two  principal  generators,  Atomic  Arcs  are  of  two 
general  varieties — Eccentric  or  Coaceatric, 

To  these  two  principal  varieties  of  Atoms  have  been  applied, 
respectively,  the  names — "  Metals  "  and  '*  Non-metals.  "  The 
one,  long  thin  curved  spindles,  capable  of  intertwining,  are 
Cohesive.  The  other,  short,  thick  curved  ovals,  are  Non- 
cohesive. 

The  particular  Form  and  Mass  of  Atoms  are  causative 
principles  in  Atomic  phenomena ;  as  these  properties,  in  Planets, 
are,  in  Planetary  phenomena.  They  are  negative  principles. 
They  do  not  serve  to  attract  two  Bodies ;  but  they  serve,  at  least, 
to  prevent  two  Bodies  from  driving  each  other  away. 


III. 


The  General  Environment  of  an  Atom,  like  the  General  En- 
vironment of  a  World,  is  the  Formative  Material  of  which  it  is 
composed,  in  its  general  and  constant  manifestation — Gravity. 

In  addition  to  this.  Atoms,  like  Worlds,  are  perturbed,  neg- 
atively and  positively,  by  other  Bodies  of  similar  formation. 

The  irregular  and  accidental  Stresses  in  the  Atomic  Envir- 
onment, caused  by  corresponding  movements  of  other  Atoms 
are,  principally,  two ;  named,  respectively.  Heat  and  Light. 

The  totality  of  Atomic  Stresses,  native  and  foreign,  may  be 
tabulated  thus : — 


Native 


Constant 
Accidental 


i  Constant 
Foreign  <  ^ 

( Accidental      -! 


Separateness        Expansive 

Mass 
Form 

Gravity 

Heat 
Light 


>  Compressive 

Compressive 

>  Expj 


)ansive 


■> 


'<\ 


^ 


> 


15 
IV. 


If  two  Atoms  are  pressed  together  by  their  Environment  with 
sufficient  force  to  cause  their  orbits  to  intersect,  they  are  com" 
bined.     They  are  a  Molecule. 

If,  owing  to  the  fact  of  excessive  similarity  or  dissimilarity, 
the  two  orbits  are  but  loosely  applied  to  one  another ;  as  soon  as 
the  environing  Pressure  is  withrawn,  the  native  antagonism  of  the 
Atoms  becomes  evident,  and  they  work  free.  The  combina- 
tion is  unstable. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  the  Atoms  are  but  moderately  dissim- 
ilar, and  their  Forms  more  fittingly  applied ;  even  though  the 
external  Pressure  be  now  withdrawn,  they  may  be  unable  to  work 
free.  For  the  reciprocal  Pressure  pf  Atom  to  Atom  is  now  ap- 
plied within  the  circuit  of  each ;  it  is  so  directed  that  it  serves  to 
bind  instead  of  to  unloose.  The  combination  is,  to  this  extent, 
stable. 

Further,  if  a  new  Environing  Force  now  "begins  to  operate; 
and  if  this  Force  is  competent  to  affect  one  of  the  Atoms  of  the 
combination,  but  not  the  other  ;  it  may  be  that,  with  this  addition 
to  its  power,  the  Atom  affected  will  be  able  to  work  free  from  the 
combination. 

And,  finally,  if,  with  the  advent  of  the  second  force,  a  new 
Atom  also  appears  upon  the  scene ;  an  Atom,  in  which  one  or 
other  of  the  two  first  finds  a  more  fitting  mate;  these,  driven 
together  by  their  Environment,  unite  and  intertwine  each  other 
with  bonds  secure  and  permanent.  The  combination  is  very 
stable. 


V. 


An  aggregate  of  Atoms,  in  unstable  combination,  will  re- 
main in  this  condition  so  long  as  the  environing  forces  are 
constant. 

If,  however,  one  of  the  environing  forces,  an  accidental  one 
necessarily,  slowly  withdraw  ;  the  aggregation  begins,  as  slowly. 


A. 


i6 


to  expand;  the  Atoms  begin  to  free  themselves  from  their 
companions 

Commencing  in  the  centre  of  the  aggregate,  where  Atomic 
repulsion  is  greatest,  two  Atoms,  moving  in  intersecting  orbits, 
work  free  from  each  other. 

But  their  further  progress  is  halted.  The  slowly  receding 
Pressure  permits  this  much,  but,  at  present,  no  more.  An  impen- 
etrable wall  of  double  Atoms  surrounds  them  on  every  side. 

Moreover,  the  space  which  they,  conjointly,  moved  in  with 
comparative  freedom,  is  too  small  for  free  movement  separately. 
It  is  barely  large  enough  for  separate  occupancy  at  Rest.  Their 
Motion  ceases. 

But  loss  of  Motion  means  loss  of  power  either  to  return  to 
their  late  conjoined  condition,  or  to  increase  the  dimensions  of 
their  present  quarters  by  means  of  staving  off  their  neighbors. 

The  latter,  however,  possess  this  power  in  full  vigor ;  and,  by 
them,  the  hapless  pair,  passive,  helpless,  motionless,  are  crowded 
together  within  the  smallest  space  capable  of  receiving  them. 

But  the  environing  Pressure  has  now  withdrawn  a  little 
more. 

Two  of  the  victorious  Atoms  profiting  nothing  by  the  fate 
of  their  late  neighbors,  invite  a  similar  one.  They,  now,  emerge 
from  the  embraces  of  their  partners.  For  one  moment  they  are 
free.  It  is  their  last.  Stricken  and  paralysed,  their  inert  bodies 
are  cast  upon  those  of  their  victims. 

Thus,  Atom  is  successively  ranged  against  Atom  with  as  nice 
approximation  as  may  be — line  to  line,  plane  to  plane,  angle  to 
depression. 

This  kind  of  formation  is  technically  termed  "Crystalization." 

Tlie  fundamental  difference  between  a  Crystal  and  a  Com- 
bination is  that,  whereas,  in  a  Crystal,  only  the  ouisides  of 
Atoms  are  applied  to  one  another ;  in  a  Combination,  the  Atoms 
are  applied  to  one  another  both  without  and  within.  In  both 
Crystal  and  Combination,  every  Atom  assumes  that  position, 
wherein,  so  far  as  its  Environment  permits,  it  is  furthest  re- 
moved from  all  of  its  immediate  neighbors,  and  from  every  part 
of  each  of  them. 


^1 


17 

In  a  Crystal,  Atomic  Motion  is  almost  completely  arrested. 
In  a  Combination  the  degree  of  reciprocal  inhibition  of  Motion, 
by  the  participating  Atoms,  is  in  direct  proportion  to  the  degree 
of  stability  of  the  Combination. 


VI. 


The  practice  of  employing  words,  instead  of  symbols,  to 
represent  pressure  ratios,  is  a  questionable  one.  If  the  words 
employed  are  used  otherwise  than  in  their  ordinary  sense,  the 
practice  is  a  pernicious  one. 

If  a  jailer  should  explain  the  close  approximation  of  two 
convicts  by  the  word  "affinity"  instead  of  "hand-cuffs;"  prob- 
ably a  stronger  and  more  offensive  epithet  than  "  conveniency  " 
would  be  applied  to  such  explanation. 

If  a  cook  should  explain  the  transit  of  a  fish  from  the  frying 
pan  into  the  fire,  by  stating  that  an  "  elective  affinity  "  existed 
between  the  fish  and  the  fire,  which  superceded  the  "  affinity  "  be- 
j^ween  the  fish  and  the  pan ;  the  statement  would  not,  by  the  Or- 
dinary Person,  be  taken  seriously,  not  even  as  a  plausible  "  work- 
ing hypothesis  "  of  the  phenomenon. 

But  of  all  explanations,  the  most  remarkable  is  that  des- 
cribed by  the  word  "  Polarity."  If  this  word  mean  anything, 
when  applied  to  Elementary  phenomena,  it  means  that  one  end  of 
the  Element  repulses  while  the  other  end  attracts.  And  the  be- 
wildered Ordinary  Person  is  set  to  the  task  of  trying  to  visualize 
an  energetic  Element,  grasping  a  prisoner  with  one  hand,  and 
vigorously  striking  out  with  the  other. 

A  mode  of  regarding  a  matter  which  does  not  conform  to  the 
truth  of  the  matter  is  anything  but  a  "  convenient  "  mode  of  re- 
garding the  matter.  Nor  is  it,  indeed,  an  inconvenient  mode  of 
regarding  the  matter.  It  is  a  disregard  of  the  matter.  A  wilful 
closing  of  the  eyes  in  regard  to  the  matter.  At  best,  a  hood- 
winked, one-sided  view  of  the  matter ;  and,  often,  a  disingenuous 
perversion  of  fact. 


Cell. 


I. 


That  part  of  the  Earth's  Mass,  which  is  least  saturated  with 
Material,  is  the  Periphery,  Here  are  no  such  furious  struggles, 
among  the  Elements,  as  in  the  depths  below.  Here  environing 
forces  press  more  lightly  than  upon  any  other  part  of  the  Earth. 
Here,  if  anywhere,  is  an  approximation  to  equality  between  na- 
tive and  foreign  Stress. 

This  is  the  birth  place  of  the  Cell ;  the  Creature  of  Balanced 
Forces;  itself  an  Epitome  of  them. 

Composed  of  the  very  same  Material  as  Worlds  and  Atoms, 
the  basic  properties  of  a  Cell  are  identical  with  theirs.  Arising 
from  causation  similar  to  that  which  generated  Worlds  and 
Atoms,  its  Form  is  comparable  to  both.  Its  parts  united  by  no 
other  bonds  than  those  which  hold  together  Elements  and  Atoms, 
its  structure  is,  in  no  wise  different  from  that  of  Molecules. 

In  one  respect,  however,  but  in  one  respect  alone.  Cellular 
conditions  are  unlike  those  of  all  other  Objects — in  the  Ratios  of 
its  component  factors.  Cellular  Ratios  approximate  equivalence. 
They  are  representible,  almost,  by  Unity. 

Out  of  a  multitude  of  diverse  motions,  inextricably  inter- 
woven, the  mean  result  is  harmony  and  synchronism  ;  from  an 
infinitude  of  reciprocal  adaptations,  there  arises  a  freedom  of  indi- 
vidual Motions  only  limited  by  the  integrity  of  the  whole. 


II. 

The  Contents  of  a  Cell  are  in  a  state  of  instability.  Their 
native  tendency  to  separateness  is  unabated ;  but  so  hedged  in 
are  they  by  multitudinous  inhibitions,  that  the  manifestation 
of  this  tendency  is,  almost  completely,  controlled.  Whichever 
way    they     turn,    they     meet    with    oppositions.     To    move  in 


>■. 


4.^ 


♦J 


19 

any  direction  is  to  encounter  the  abhorred  presence  of  others. 
Here,  then,  will  result  Confusion  and  Nullity.     Not  so. 

The  Bonds  which  bind  the  Elements  together,  though  very 
numerous,  are,  also,  of  great  latitude ;  an  extended  swing  is  per- 
missible without  rupture.  The  very  infinitude  of  the  bonds  al- 
lows this;  the  Elements  are  not  connected  by  a  single  link,  but 
by  a  vast  number  of  them. 

And  these  two  factors.  Inhibition  and  License,  Law  and 
Liberty,  are  (almost)  Balanced.  The  result  is  foreseen.  The 
swings  of  all  the  Elements  occur  synchrously ;  instead  of  inhibi- 
tion, there  is  enforcement ;  instead  of  confusion,  accentuation 
and  harmony, 

III. 

The  aggregate  Motions  of  all  its  Elements,  is  the  proper 
Motion  of  the  Cell,  as  distinguished  from  its  translatory  Mo- 
tion. It  is  the  proper  Form  of  the  Cell,  as  distinguished 
from  its  occasional  and  accidental  one. 

According  to  the  ratio  of  the  factors,  a  Ce]l  inclines  either 
td  the  Spindle  or  to  the  Oval  in  Form.  Whether  Spindle  or 
Oval,  it  is  a  Curved  Line  bending  inwards;  an  Arc,  a  Broken 
Ring  whose  extremities  do  not  lie  in  one  plane. 

The  native  force  of  a  Cellular  Element,  like  that  of  the  same 
Element  in  any  other  position  and  under  any  other  circumstances, 
is  expansive ;  Balanced,  as  it  is,  by  that  of  other  Elements,  it 
is  inconsiderable  in  amount.  Reinforced  and  accentuated,  as  it 
is,  by  that  of  other  Elements  acting  synchronously  and  har- 
moniously. Cellular  force  as  a  whole  is  measurable  by  the  Multi- 
plicity of  its  Elements.  And,  since  these  are  very  numerous, 
their  resulting  force  is  proportionally  great. 

Beginning  in  the  centre,  where  reciprocal  opposition  is 
fiercest,  the  Elements  flee,  in  opposite  directions,  to  the  extremi- 
ties of  the  Arc. 

Here,  finding  no  outlet,  crowded  together,  they  are  hurried 
.back  to  the  centre  ;  from  whence  they  again  retreat ;  and  whither 
they  again  and  again  return. 

When   the   two  streams  of  Elements  reach  their  respective 


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Ai 


20 


peripheries;  the  two  extremities  of  the  Arc  bend  inwards, 
towards  each  other.  When  the  Elements  reach  the  centre ;  and 
the  two  extremities  are  left  almost  free;  the  Cell  straightens 
outwards. 

And  the  factors  which  produce  this  oscillation  are  (almost) 
balanced,     A  Rhythmical  Pulsation  ensues. 


IV. 

The  prime  factors  of  a  Cell,  like  those  of  all  physical  ob- 
jects, are  Body  and  Environment.  Unlike  all  other  physical 
Objects,  the  proper  Environment  of  a  Cell  is  an  integral  con- 
nected part  of  the  Cell. 

Originating  from  the  peripheral  Cellular  Elements  which 
are  interposed  between  the  remainder  of  the  Elements  and  the 
Outside  World;  battered  alike  by  native  and  foreign  forces  until 
they  become  welded  into  a  continuous  expansion ;  the  Cell-wall 
is  quite  distinct  from  the  Body  of  the  Cell,  and  is,  thus,  the 
Cell's  proper  Environment. 

It  represents  the  foreign  compressive  force  of  the  Cell.  It 
not  only  prevents  the  ingress  of  foreign  Bodies  from  the  Outer 
World ;  but,  chiefly,  it  prevents  the  egress  of  native  Bodies  from 
within. 

It  is  elastic;  its  compressive  powers  are  irregular,  with 
occasional  yieldings.     Dilatation  results. 

It  is  ionic.  Its  Elements,  forced  into  artificial  relationship, 
have,  in  no  wise,  lost  their  primitive  tendency  to  separateness. 
Forced  expansion  of  the  Elements,  bound,  as  they  are,  only 
serves  to  make  their  chains  more  galling.  Contraction  of  the 
Cell-wall  is  an  expression  of  the  native  forces  of  the  Elements. 

And  these  factors  are  (almost)  balanced.  Alternate  Dila- 
tation and  Contraction  result. 


V. 

When  a  Cell  dilates,  its  Ventral  surface  becomes  exposed  to 
the  Outside  World.     Whatever  foreign  Bodies  are  nearest  to  this 


-0 


ai 

surface,  are  pressed  against  it  by  their  immediate  Environment. 
The  succeeding  contraction  of  the  Cell  closes  them  in. 

During  Contraction,  the  Cellular  Elements  are  least 
dense  at  the  Ventral  surface.  Opposition  to  the  ingress  of 
foreign  bodies  is  proportionably  small. 

To  some  of  the  enclosed  foreign  Bodies,  the  path  of  least 
resistance  may  be  through  the  Cell-wall,  and  into  the  Ventral 
substance  of  the  Cell.  It  might  be  so,  for  instance,  to  an  inor- 
ganic Atom.     Let  it  be  supposed  so. 

The  Invader  now  lies  full  in  the  path  where,  presently,  the 
returning  Cellular  Elements  will  meet.  For  a  moment  he  enjoys 
a  new  found  liberty;  the  next,  his  fate  is  decided.  Crushed  be- 
tween the  marshalled  forces  of  the  native  Elements,  the  hapless 
foreigner  must  either  be  drilled  into  their  habits,  and  so  become 
an  integral  part  of  them  ;  or  else  will  he  be  ground  between  their 
ranks  and  cast  back  into  the  Outside  World. 

In  the  one  case  the  Atom  will  be  "  absorbed  ;"  in  the  other, 
"  excreted." 

VI. 

Cells,  like  Atoms,  combine. 

If  two  Cells,  of  similar  Formation,  are  approximated;  for 
these  is  union  impossible;  for  neither  can  penetrate  the  other. 

If  two  Cells,  of  very  dissimilar  formation  are  approximated  ; 
for  these  is  union  impracticable  ;  for  if  reciprocal  destruction  does 
not  immediately  result,  though  one  penetrate  the  other,  the  reten- 
tive bonds  are  lacking ;  they  are  mutually  unfit,  and  the  combin- 
ation is  unstable. 

But  if  two  Cells,  of  not  very  dissimilar  formation,  meet  with 
sufficient  force  to  cause  penetration,  but  insufficient  to  produce 
destruction  ;  they  will  unite  with  such  nice  fitness  that  separation 
will  be  impossible ;  and  they  will  remain  fast  locked  in  each 
other's  embrace. 

This  is  a  Cellular  Combination  in  the  same  sense  as  an 
Atomic  Combination.  To  two  Atoms;  this  would  be  the  end.  If 
undisturbed  by  further  ulterior  forces,  their  combination  would, 
thereafter,  know  no  change. 

To  a  Cellular  Combination  it  is  otherwise.     Apart  from  any 


V 


99 


further  ulterior  force,  changes  are  initiated  from  within,  simple 
enough  when  reduced  to  simple  terms,  but  singularly  curious 
when  viewed  as  a  whole. 


K 


VII. 


Assuming  that  neither  of  the  factors  of  a  Cellular  Combina- 
tion are  immediately  ruptured  by  the  first  shock  of  meeting;  the 
Spindle  shaped  Cell  remains  buried  in  the  Ventrum  of  the  Oval. 

The  internal  Stress  of  the  latter  is  now  doubled.  The  Cell- 
wall  being  only  sufficient  to  stay  the  normal  Cellular  Pressure, 
this  condition  cannot  continue. 

Beginning  in  the  centre  where  native  Stress  is  fiercest,  the 
Cell-wall  of  the  Invader  is  the  first  to  succumb.  Its  Elements 
are  dispersed  among  their  hosts. 

Being  precisely  adaptable  to  one  another,  as  their  respective 
wholes  were,  the  two  kinds  of  Elements  immediately  pair. 

The  internal  Stress  is  now  somewhat  lessened,  but  it  still  far 
exceeds  the  retaining  power  of  the  Cell-wall. 

At  the  centre,  where  tension  is  greatest,  the  Cellular  Ele- 
ments begin  to  withdraw  in  two  opposite  directions,  tearing  the 
Cell-wall  where  they  divide. 

As  the  Elements  retreat,  the  rear-ranks  of  both  parties,  bear 
ing  the  brunt  of  the  fray,  become  battered  into  a  membrane  sim- 
ilar to  the  environing  one,  and  continuous  with  it. 

But  in  each  of  the  two  halves,  the  internal  Stress  is  still 
greater  than  the  external  one. 

Then  occur  cleavages  of  both  the  halves ;  into  fours ;  into 
eights ;  sixteens ;  until,  finally,  the  internal  and  external  Stresses 
balance. 


<^ 


This  process  is  technically  termed  '•  Proliferation."  It  is  a 
destructive  process.  Expressed  in  simplest  terms,  it  is  a  reversal 
from,  a  state  of  unity  to  a  state  of  multiplicity,  A  Devolution- 
ary  process.  Without  doubt,  a  process  of  Death.  But  no  less 
truly  is  it  a  Beginning  of  Life. 


^ 


I 


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I 


Copyright  1905,  by 
The  Stapelkrs  Society 


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